Reduced boat fares for Supporters
Date posted: 13-Apr-2012
From the 360 Discovery Team: 360 Discovery is pleased to be able to offer you a special offer on..
Stars of Tiritiri
Date posted: 22-Mar-2012
Join the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi and amateur astronomers on Saturday 28th April for a spe..
2012 Photo competition
Date posted: 16-Mar-2012
Yet again we are running our almost famous photo competition on the island so please get your ca..
Ornithology to play at Tiri Kokako Concert
Date posted: 07-Mar-2012
To celebrate our kokako and bring Kokako Week to a fitting climax, we have a great concert lined..
Art for kokako week
Date posted: 27-Feb-2012
Artwork for our Kokako Week event is now being delivered to the Island by our visiting artists a..
Kokako Celebration Week
Date posted: 03-Feb-2012
This year's 'Celebration Week species' is the kokako. Once again, we have the kokako-inspired wo..
Pied Shag - possible new breeding species
Date posted: 29-Dec-2011
Pied Shags are a common sight on Tiritiri Matangi, sometimes feeding on the seas around the Isla..
Kokako Update
Date posted: 23-Dec-2011
Congratulations to Te Koha Waiata and Cloudsley Shovel. After two unsuccessful seasons our found..
Wetapunga on Tiri
Date posted: 14-Dec-2011
The 10th December was a special day on the Island with the arrival of wetapunga on Tiri...
Kokako Update
Date posted: 23-Nov-2011
So far this season the kokako team have found the nests of three pairs: Cloudsley Shovel and TKW..
Takahe
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Scientific name: |
Porphyrio mantelli |
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Conservation status |
Protected endangered endemic |
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Mainland status: |
c. 130 in Murchison Mountains |
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Size: |
63cm, 3kg |
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Lifespan: |
14 - 20 Years |
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Breeding: |
October - December |
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Diet: |
Grasses, fern rhizomes, snow tussocks |
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First introduced to Tiri: |
2 birds in 1991 |
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Population on Tiri: |
10 (July 2007) |
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Total population: |
243 (March 2004) |
Belonging to the same family as the successful Pukeko, the Takahe, sadly not so successful, was thought to be extinct until the rediscovery of c. 250 birds in the Murchison Mountains of Fiordland in 1948. Since then their numbers surviving in the wild have declined, fluctuating between 110 and 160 birds. The low success rate in breeding is due partly to the high rate of egg infertility, about 40%. Breeding is closely monitored and 'extra' eggs beyond one per clutch are removed and given to another takahe to incubate. Surplus eggs go to the Burwood Rearing Unit where the chicks are fed by puppets and raised for return to the wild.The takahe has brown eyes, a scarlet red bill and shield massive, with red legs and feet. The plumage ranges from an iridescent dark blue head, neck and breast and peacock blue shoulders to olive green and blue back and wings. They do have wings despite being flightless. The juveniles have a black bill and black plumage.
They form persistent, sometimes life-long, pairs and stray from their permanent territories only in winter in search of food usually returning to the same territories in the summer. In the wild, takahe live in high-altitude hidden valleys feeding on snow tussocks and on fern rhizomes. They survive on outlying islands around New Zealand on grasses and fern rhizomes, digesting only the plant juices and not the fibres.
Takahe pairs call back and forth to each other in duet in a very deep resonant 'kloomph', whilst their normal contact call by day or night is a very loud, weka-like 'cooet'.Two takahe, both males (Mr Blue and Stormy) were released on Tiri in 1991, followed by 1 female (JJ) in 1992. Further releases have occurred since then and many birds have been born on Tiri. The total population on Tiri is now 10 birds.
Photography by: Simon Fordham © (top right) and by Max McRae © (bottom left)
References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking.